Device for observing the flow of fluids and vapors through conduits.



I G. SCHACKE. DEVICE FOR OBSERVING THE FLOW 0F FLUIDS AND VAPORS THROUGH CONDUITS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- I 7. I9I2.

' Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0. WASHINGTON, D c.

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GUSTAV SCHACKE, O15 AUGSBURG, GERMANY.

DEVICE FOR OBSERVINC-r THE FLOW F FLUIDS AND VAPORS THROUGH GDNDUITS.

mantis.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 25, 11916.

Application filed September 17, 1912. Serial No. 720,390.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAv Sci-menu, a subject of the German Emperor, residing at Augsburg, in the German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Observing the Flow of Fluids and Vapors Through Conduits, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to improvements in devices for observing theflow of fluids and vapors through conduits, and has reference, more specifically, to a device whereby the flow of steam charged or satult ted water, through an exhaust conduit, may be readily observed. It has been heretofore proposed to provide a device for this general purpose, which device embodies a casing built into the exhaust conduit, said casing being subdivided by a battle wall or rib and being provided with an observation opening or window through which the flow of the liquid may be seen. This device, however, is intended to be used normally with the window in horizontal position, and if the window is to be placed vertically the structural details of the device require substantial modification. Furthermore, if the window be vertically positioned, care must be taken to have it rest tightly against its supporting flange as well as against the baffle wall in the casing, thus requiring not only a bearing or packing surface of large area, but also necessitating careful grindin g of the packing surfaces of the batlie wall.

With the foregoing general statement of the art in mind, it is one of the principal objects of my invention to provide a device of the character indicated, which may with equal facility be positioned with the window in either horizontal or vertical position without requiring the structure to be modi fled in any particular.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure wherein the casing will form a water trap or basin, irrespective of whether the device is placed vertically or horizontally.

A further object of the invention is to so construct and combine the parts that the observation window will be spaced away from the baf ie .wall, whereby all packing between these members is dispensed with,

and owing to the space between the window A further object of the invention is to reduce the size of the window employed, thus decreasing, to a, minimum, the packing surface needed about the periphery of the window glass.

Other objects and advantages of the invention. and its detail structure and opera ticn, will be clearly disclosed in the following specification, reference being made to the accrmpanying drawing, wherein- Figure l is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view of a device embodying my invention, the window being horizontal; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1, one half of the device appearing in section; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view; Fig. l: is a view similar to Fig. A, the device being shown in the position it assumes when installed in a vertically placed conduit; and 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4:, the device bein shown in the position it assumes when installed in a horizontally placed conduit, the window being vertical.

Referring to the drawing, a designates a cylindrical casing provided with the lateral pipe connections 6 and 0, and the substantially central, upwardly projecting threaded flinge (Z to support the glass 27 which is placed over the observation opening in the casing a. The connections I) and c are connected to the casing a by the angular web section 04 whereby, when the device has the glass in. horizontal position, these connections combined with the lower part of the casing a form a water trap as is clearly indicated in Figs. 1 to 8.

Extending within the casing a, from diametrically opprsite points of the inner edges of the connections 6, a, and the casing wall, are partition walls 6 and f, the upper edges of which are thickened and threaded to form the supporting flange d above referred to. The inner ends of these partition walls project in opposite directions slightly beyond the central axis of the casing 64, and near their inner ends the walls 6 and f are connected by a septum or batlle wall or rib 9. One feature of the invention consists in extending the ends of the walls a and f beyond the opposite ends of the septum g. T he effect of this construction is to form a liquid seal at each side of the septum g. Owing to the presence of such liquid seal, bubbles will be caused to form by steam flowing through the device, and the bubbles will be visible through th WiIKlOW 2', hereinafter referred to. The extent to which the ends of the walls 6 and f are prolonged beyond the center line of the septum 9 determines the size of the liquid seal, and the longer the liquid seal the more clearly can the bubbles be cbserved. The battle wall 9 is not as high as the walls 6 and 7, but extends very slightly above the upper line of the. induction and eduction passages 10 and 11, as shown in Fig. 1. The partitionwalls e and are substantially cgee shaped, their extreme outer ends being parallel to the axis of the cylindrical casing a, and these walls, together with their extension (Z, form an inner, passaged chamber, concentric with the cylindrical part of the casing a. The flange (Z supports'the window 2', which is removably held in position by the threaded,

. orificed, cap Z engaging the threaded flange (Z; Packing 7L and It is interposed between the glass 2' and the flange cl and cap Z.

The device is primarily intended for use in connection with steam heating plants and the like, to indicate whether the steam traps are working properly to discharge water of condensation. When the device is V so used, it is built into the discharge pipe steam traps, and the nature of the defect will be indicated either by the bubbling of the water in the device, or the evacuation of'water therefrom; When the device is used in a plant'employing steam traps having continuous discharge, there will be a constant flow of water through the device as long as the steam traps are operating properly, and this flow will be observable through the glass. It the operation of the trap is defective, the flow of water through the device will be intermittent or possibly absent, indicating the defective condition of the traps.

If the device is installed as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, the partition walls act as b'allies, in Fig. althe lower wall being the baliie, and in Fig. 5 the upper wall (f in both cases). When the system is in proper working order the chamber 1 of Fig. will be filled with water, and the chambers I and II of Fig. 5 will be filled. Should any defeet develop, the water in these respective chambers will first bubble and these chambers will empty.

I claim l. A device of the character specified, comprising a casing having oppositely disposed inlet and outlet passages, curved walls the entire height of said casing extending from diametrically opposite sides-of the passages inwardly and across the corresponding passages and then parallel to the adjacent walls of said casing, and a septum traversing said casing substantially at its center line, said septum being lower than said curved walls and connecting the latter near their ends, whereby a water trap is formed in the space above and at each side of said septum in whatever position said device may be placed.

2. A device of the character specified, comprising a substantially annular casing having oppositely disposed inlet and outlet passages, curved walls the entire height of said casing extending from diametrically opposite sides of the passages inwardly and across the corresponding passages and then parallel to the adjacent 'alls of said casing, said walls having their inner ends extending in opposite directions beyond the center line of said casing, and a straight septum traversing said casing substantially at its center line, said septum being lower than saidcurved walls and connecting the latter near their ends, whereby a water trap is formed in the space above and at each side of said septum in whatever position said device may be placed.

3. A device of the character specified, comprising a casing having oppositely disposed inlet and outlet passages, curved walls the entire height of said casing extending from diametrically opposite sides of the passages inwardly and across the corresponding passages and then parallel to the adjacent walls of said casing, a straight septum traversing said casing substantially at its center line, said septum being lower than said curved walls and connecting the same near their inner ends whereby a water trap is formed in the space above and at each side of said septum in whatever position said device may be placed, and an observaticn window in the casing arranged over the water trap therein.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAV SCHACKE. Witnesses:

lVIA'rinLDE K. HELD, RICHARD LEMP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, I). C, 

